Rotary disc having adjustable ice chip cutters

ABSTRACT

There is provided a rotary disc having a plurality of pivotably mounted ice chippers, the extension of the blades of the chippers beyond the periphery of the disc being maintained by rotation of the disc and a fixed or adjustable stop or other means positioned on the disc. The disc is provided with recesses for the blades of the ice chippers in order that they may be retracted into the recesses of the disc if an unusual resistance in the ice is met. Once the resistance has been overcome the cutter returns to its normal position by centrifugal forces or other means.

1 1 Sept. 25, 1973 ROTARY DISC HAVING ADJUSTABLE ICE CHIP CUTTERS [75]Inventor: David L. Buckley, Arcadia, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Air Logistics Corporation, Pasadena,

Calif.

[22] Filed: Nov. 4, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 195,618

[52] US. Cl 299/25, 114/42, 299/85 Meyer 299/25 Lommen 299/25 PrimaryExaminer-Ernest R. Purser Att0meyAndrew .l. Belansky et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT There is provided a rotary disc having a plurality ofpivotably mounted ice chippers, the extension of the blades of thechippers beyond the periphery of the disc being maintained by rotationof the disc and a fixed or adjustable stop or other means positioned onthe disc. The disc is provided with recesses for the blades of the icechippers in order that they may be retracted into the'recesses of thedisc if an unusual resistance in the ice is met. Once the resistance hasbeen overcome the cutter returns to its normal position by centrifugalforces or other means.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures [51] Int. Cl B63b 35/12 [58] Field of Search299/25, 27, 28, 85, 299/86; 114/42 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,022,055 2/1962 Allimann 299/85 3,695,724 10/1972 Taylor 299/85X 3,223,451 12/1965 Orr 299/85 IIHHLHIHHHH &

lm-n l itlllllllllulllll llllllllllllllllll BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to improvement of ice cutting blades foruse in systems for cutting a path through ice or maintaining a zone freeof ice due to the action of rotating ice cutting blades.

In US. Pat. No. 3,521,592 to Rosner et al., there is provided an icechannel cutter for use on marine vessels. The cutter is mounted on theprow of the vessels and is provided with a plurality of verticallyextending rotary ice engaging units each presenting an array of radiallyextending ice chopping blades or cutters. The ice choppers are rotatedsimultaneously with the forward movement of the vessel to chew into theice and to chop it into relatively small chunks which are carriedsideways and rearwardly around the vessel or downwardly such that thevessel may pass over it.

The ice engaging units are desirably movable, vertically relative to thevessel so as to position them for optimum efficiency independent of thedepth the vessel may ride in the water due to its weight or load. As anoptional feature, additional ice engaging units are pivotably mounted onopposite sides of the vessel adjacent the prow and adapted to be swungoutwardly from the vessel to widen the channel initially cut by thoseunits mounted on the vessel prow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there isprovided an improved ice chipping cutter for use in marine ice engagingunits for cutting a path through ice.

The ice chip cutter of this invention consists of a disc for mounting ona rotatable shaft. A plurality of arm members containing ice chippingblades are pivotably mounted at one end thereof on the disc. The discalso provides means to control the extension of the ice chipping bladesbeyond the periphery of the disc during disc rotation and recesses toreceive the ice chipping blades if an unusual resistance in the ice ismet durin disc rotation.

In one mode of operation, the ice chipping blades extend beyond theperiphery of the disc to a controlled degree as a consequence of thecentrifugal forces created by rotation of the disc. The extension of theice chipping blades beyond the periphery of the disc is controlled bythe stops on the disc which may be fixed or adjustable. If one or moreof the blades meetsan obstruction which cannot be cut, the blade isforced back into the recesses provided by the disc either totally orpartially depending upon the resistance provided by the obstruction.When the obstruction has been passed or eliminated the blade returns toits normal position.

In optional embodiment, the arm members may be coupled to biasedhydraulic system or other means which forces the arm member against thestops or controls the extension of the ice chipping blades without theuse of a stop. This hydraulic system permits the ice chipping blades toretreat wholly or partially into the recesses of the disc when anobstruction is met and then force the ice chipping blades back to theirdesired position once the obstruction has passed.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side view of the disc employing the adjustableice chipping cutters.

of the ice chipping cutters.

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1 of the disc showing the ice chippingcutter mounted thereon in greater detail in both the extended andretracted positions of the ice chipping blades thereof showing fixed andadjustable stop means.

FIG. 3 illustrates side view of the preferred ice chipping arm memberwith ice chipping blade.

FIG. 4 illustrates the top view of an alternate system for various usesof a hydraulic mechanism to control the extension and retraction of theice chipping blades FIG. 5 shows a detailed illustration of thehydraulic ice chipper return mechanism.

DESCRIPTION According to the present invention, there is provided anadjustable ice chipper for use on structures mounted on vessels to cut apath through ice or'for maintaining a zone around a fixed structure freeof contact with ice or ice flows.

With reference first to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the adjustable ice chippercutter consists of a disc 10 having slots 12 for mounting on a rotatableshaft passed through opening 14 by means of keys and the like.

On disc 10 there are positioned a plurality of ice chipping cutters 16comprising pivotably mounted arm member 20 having secured thereto or asa part thereof ice chipping blades 22. The arm members 20 are pivotablysecured to disc 10 in sliding relationship by shafts 24 and held inplace by plates 26. Associated with each blade 22 there is provided ondisc 10 recesses 28 which permits the blades 22 of pivotably mounted armmembers 20 of ice chipping cutters 16 to retract into recess 28 when theice chipping cutter 16 engages an object having a greater resistancethan the cutting power provided to the blades 20 as a consequence of thecentrifugal forces imparted to each ice chipping cutter 16 because ofthe rate of rotation of disc 10 about a shaft (not shown).

There is also provided an ice chipping cutter stops which may be fixedsuch as pins 30 or adjustable such as a cam 31 which control theextension of the blade 22 of an ice chipping cutter 16 beyond theperiphery of disc l0,'the stop engaging the opposed end of arm member 20of ice chipping cutter 116.

With additional reference now to FIG. 3, ice chipping cutter 16 isprovided with arm member 20 and blade 22. Arm member 20 permits blade 22to extend beyond the periphery of disc 10.

In addition, the width of blade 22 is such thatwhen one surface of armmember 20 is in contact or close relationship to disc 10, the outermostedge of blade 22 extends to and preferably beyond, as shown in FIG. 1,the width of disc 10.

The cutting edge 32 of blade 22 is preferably sharp in order that itwill chip ice rather than out ice since this requires less force. Thearm member 20 of ice chipping cutter 46 is provided with opening 33 formounting on shaft 24 of disc 10.

When employing the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a dischaving a diameter of about 3 feet and rotated at a rate of 500 rpm willprovide enough centrifugal force to hold the ice chipping cutter 16against stop 30 or 31 and maintain a chipping action to chip ice of ahigh shear resistance for a cutter having a moment about shaft 24 ofabout 3 inches and a blade a biased system, preferentially hydraulic innature which is fixed or pivotably secured to plate 10. This systemprovides a positive force against ice chipping cutter 16 but alsopermits retraction of the cutter when an unusual resistance is met.

edge 32 width of about 1.5 inches and arm member width of about 0.5inch.

If the resistance exceeds this value or the cutting power of any icechipping cutter 16, the cutter begins to retract into recess 28. Thedegree of retraction is de- 5 pendent upon the resistance met and theice chipping cutter 16 either is partially retracted to reduce theamount of bite blade 22 into the ice or entirely retracted into recess28 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

Once the resistance has been overcome, centrifugal forces on the icechipping cutter 16 as a consequence of the rate of rotation of discreturns the cutter 16 to its normal position against stop 30 or 31.

With reference now to FIG. 4, there may be provided Once the resistanceis overcome, the bias force pro- In the preferred embodiment the systemcomprises a cylinder 34 containing an hydraulic fluid 35 and a spring 37which which in combination provides a positive biased force and plungershaft 36 provided with a disc 39 to provide resistance againstretraction of shaft 36 and ice chipping blade 16. The system is, ofcourse, provided with seal 41 to prevent fluid leakage. Where theplunger shaft 36 is secured to the ice chipping cutter 16, stop may beeliminated as the biased plunger shaft 36 will control the extension ofice chipping blade 22 beyond the periphery of disc 10 and yet permit itsretraction into recesses 28 as shown in FIG. 4, when an unusualresistance in the ice is met.

It will be appreciated that the addition of the biased system canincrease the cutting power of the cutter over that provided only bycentrifugal forces for the disc and cutter dimensions given above.

The adjustable ice chipping cutter of this invention 45 may beconstructed from mild steel although the ice chipping blades arepreferably hardened for long wear.

recesses about the peripheral edge thereof;

b. a plurality of ice chipping cutters which cut ice into chipspivotably secured to at least one side of said disc in slidablerelationship each ice chipping cutter comprising:

i. an arm member pivotably secured at one end of said disc in slidablerelationship;

ii. an ice chipping blade positioned along the length of said arm memberand adapted by pivoting of said arm member to extend beyond theperiphery of said disc and retreat into a recess thereof, said icechipping blade having a sharp edge, said edge extending above and belowthe sides of said disc;

c. means to control the extension of the ice chipping blades beyond theperiphery of said disc.

2. An adjustable ice chipping cutter as claimed in claim 1 in which saidmeans to control the extension of said ice chipping blade beyond theperiphery of said disc comprises a plurality of cylinders each cylindercontaining a hydraulic fluid and a spring biased against a shaftconnected to an arm member, the natural extension of said shaft fromsaid cylinder controlling the extension of said ice chipping bladebeyond the periphery of said disc.

3. An adjustable ice chipping cutter as claimed in claim 1 in which themeans to control the extension of the ice chipping blade beyond theperiphery of said disc is a stop secured to said disc and positioned toengage the arm member at a point beyond said ice chipping blade at pointopposed to the end at which the arm member is pivotably secured to saiddisc.

4. An adjustable ice chipping cutter as claimed in claim 3 incombination with retractably biased means against said arm members toresist retraction of said ice chipping blades into said recesses.

5. An adjustable ice chipping cutter as claimed in claim 4 in which eachretractably biased means comprises a cylinder containing hydraulic fluidand a spring means biased against a shaft in contact with arm members.

6. An adjustable ice chipping cutter as claimed in claim 3 in which thestop is adjustable.

7. An adjustable ice chipping cutter as claimed in claim 6 incombination with retractably biased means against said arm members toresist retraction of said ice chipping blades into said recesses.

8. An adjustable ice chipping cutter as claimed in claim 7 in which eachretractably biased means comprises a cylinder containing hydraulic fluidand a spring means biased against a shaft in contact with arm members.

1. An adjustable ice chipping cutter which comprises: a. a circular dischaving upper and lower sides and a peripheral edge, said disc adapted tobe rotatably secured to a shaft and provided with a plurality ofrecesses about the peripheral edge thereof; b. a plurality of icechipping cutters which cut ice into chips pivotably secured to at leastone side of said disc in slidable relationship each ice chipping cuttercomprising: i. an arm member pivotably secured at one end of said discin slidable relationship; ii. an ice chipping blade positioned along thelength of said arm member and adapted by pivoting of said arm member toextend beyond the periphery of said disc and retreat into a recessthereof, said ice chipping blade having a sharp edge, said edgeextending above and below the sides of said disc; c. means to controlthe extension of the ice chipping blades beyond the periphery of saiddisc.
 2. An adjustable ice chipping cutter as claimed in claim 1 inwhich said means to control the extension of said ice chipping bladebeyond the periphery of said disc comprises a plurality of cylinderseach cylinder containing a hydraulic fluid and a spring biased against ashaft connected to an arm member, the natural extension of said shaftfrom said cylinder controlling the extension of said ice chipping bladebeyond the periphery of said disc.
 3. An adjustable ice chipping cutteras claimed in claim 1 in which the means to control the extension of theice chipping blade beyond the periphery of said disc is a stop securedto said disc and positioned to engage the arm member at a point beyondsaid ice chipping blade at point opposed to the end at which the armmember is pivotably secured to said disc.
 4. An adjustable ice chippingcutter as claimed in claim 3 in combination with retractably biasedmeans against said arm members to resist retraction of said ice chippingblades into said recesses.
 5. An adjustAble ice chipping cutter asclaimed in claim 4 in which each retractably biased means comprises acylinder containing hydraulic fluid and a spring means biased against ashaft in contact with arm members.
 6. An adjustable ice chipping cutteras claimed in claim 3 in which the stop is adjustable.
 7. An adjustableice chipping cutter as claimed in claim 6 in combination withretractably biased means against said arm members to resist retractionof said ice chipping blades into said recesses.
 8. An adjustable icechipping cutter as claimed in claim 7 in which each retractably biasedmeans comprises a cylinder containing hydraulic fluid and a spring meansbiased against a shaft in contact with arm members.